Child Mortality Rate Increases in Zimbabwe

From CDC National Prevention Information Network

October 27, 2006

Child mortality is rising in Zimbabwe, the state-controlled Herald newspaper reported Health Minister David Parinrenyatwa as saying. Citing the Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey, Parirenyatwa said one in 15 children in the country will die before his or her first birthday, and one in 10 will die before turning five. Infant deaths per 1,000 live births rose from 59 to 102 between 1985 and 1999, while maternal mortality more than doubled from 283 per 100,000 live births in 1994 to 695 between 1995 and 1999. One reason for the increase in child mortality, Parinrenyatwa said, is the high cost of health care, which puts it beyond the reach of most people. Though public health clinics should not charge anything for treating children under five or pregnant women who cannot pay, some nevertheless demand payment. HIV/AIDS and the national economic crisis have battered Zimbabwe's health care system, which was once among Africa's finest. Many health professionals have fled, and stocks of drugs are severely depleted.

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